La Sportiva Mutant Running Shoes - Black

Like a few other reviewers, this has been my go to shoe for what seems like a decade now. I have a somewhat narrow foot with a very low instep and often have to size down in other shoes to get a good heel hold but the weird wrap tongue on the Mutant is amazing at customizing the fit to my foot so I can give my toes plenty of space and still have my heel locked in place. I've also talked to people with higher volume insteps who get a really good fit so the tongue is just magic.Toe box is mid volume so I can handle technical terrain and steep sidehills if I need to but I still have room for it to stay comfortable all day.Sole has super chunky tread that is amazing at finding traction on scree slopes but is made out of a super sticky rubber so friction climbing on ... MoreLike a few other reviewers, this has been my go to shoe for what seems like a decade now. I have a somewhat narrow foot with a very low instep and often have to size down in other shoes to get a good heel hold but the weird wrap tongue on the Mutant is amazing at customizing the fit to my foot so I can give my toes plenty of space and still have my heel locked in place. I've also talked to people with higher volume insteps who get a really good fit so the tongue is just magic.Toe box is mid volume so I can handle technical terrain and steep sidehills if I need to but I still have room for it to stay comfortable all day.Sole has super chunky tread that is amazing at finding traction on scree slopes but is made out of a super sticky rubber so friction climbing on slabs works a lot better than you'd expect. Not quite like the Bushido but really close.The only negative thing I can say is that the shoelace sheath always breaks really soon into the shoe's life, often after only 100-200 miles. The core stays fine so it's not catastrophic, but it does make tying the shoe a pain until you replace the laces.If I know a run will be exclusively in rocky technical terrain then I take my Bushido IIs. If I know a run will be long and only on smooth trail then I want my Speedgoats. But for everything in between (or for runs with a little bit of everything) it's always the Mutants.

All Around Solid

Got these in basically new condition from an REI Garage Sale for $88. They were used for about 310 miles and around 92,000 vertical feet in the Colorado trails and mountains. They ate up virtually everything that I threw at them - from muddy/slushy winter trails, to 25+ of the highest peaks in the state, to 4th class scrambles, to 20 mile off-trail sections. They dry very quick when wet and maintain very solid grip. The only 2 issues I had were that the white Frixion compound for the outsole is their most grippy BUT least durable version of Frixion. The outsole eroded very quickly at 310 miles. Also, if you’re a heavy pronator like me, this may feel potentially unstable. Eventually shoes seemed to have no shock absorption and left my feet and legs with some pain. YMMV.

Almost!! I wanted to BUT?

I?ve tried these, the Akyra?s, and the Wildcats. Returned these and the Akyra?s. They?re just too narrow for my feet. Better than the Akyra but not enough. I?m used to running Altra Lone Peaks. I love the way they allow you to splat but am in need of something more stable so I?m going back to La Sportiva.I would have kept these if they had more give in the forefoot. The treads and sticky traction would have been awesome running on the trail and they feel like they have just the right amount of cushion.The lacing is interesting and would have been a plus but I?m not sure how long the material the laces go through would last.I don?t think you can go wrong with these if your foot fits them.In the 5 La Sportiva I?ve owned/tried I?ve always sized up a half size with ... MoreI?ve tried these, the Akyra?s, and the Wildcats. Returned these and the Akyra?s. They?re just too narrow for my feet. Better than the Akyra but not enough. I?m used to running Altra Lone Peaks. I love the way they allow you to splat but am in need of something more stable so I?m going back to La Sportiva.I would have kept these if they had more give in the forefoot. The treads and sticky traction would have been awesome running on the trail and they feel like they have just the right amount of cushion.The lacing is interesting and would have been a plus but I?m not sure how long the material the laces go through would last.I don?t think you can go wrong with these if your foot fits them.In the 5 La Sportiva I?ve owned/tried I?ve always sized up a half size with the exception of my Sportive rock shoes. I used to use the Bushido?s. I also own a pair of ice climbing boots. Keeping the Wildcats.

An almost perfect technical, trail/mountain shoe

Have tried so many shoes (and spent way too much money) on finding a great trail and mountain running shoe. Trying to find something to work with my foot (narrow heel, normal to slightly wide forefoot), something that gas some cushioning but isn't so soft that the midsole collapses on fast, technical switch backs, and mountain trails, and something that has great grip, especially on wet rock. Enter the la sportiva mutant. This shoe fits me so well, and if you have a similar foot shape to me, and run on technical trails, would highly suggest trying it out. Only con would be the weight, which is on the higher side of trail shoes but runs much better than the stated weight. Would check it out and hope la sportiva keeps it in production! Also as with all my la sportiva ... MoreHave tried so many shoes (and spent way too much money) on finding a great trail and mountain running shoe. Trying to find something to work with my foot (narrow heel, normal to slightly wide forefoot), something that gas some cushioning but isn't so soft that the midsole collapses on fast, technical switch backs, and mountain trails, and something that has great grip, especially on wet rock. Enter the la sportiva mutant. This shoe fits me so well, and if you have a similar foot shape to me, and run on technical trails, would highly suggest trying it out. Only con would be the weight, which is on the higher side of trail shoes but runs much better than the stated weight. Would check it out and hope la sportiva keeps it in production! Also as with all my la sportiva trail shoes, would recommend going up half a size form your normal size, unless you like squished toes.

Big lugs, comfortable ride

I bought these after trying out the La Sportiva Karacal, which was a very comfortable trail shoe except for the elastic band mid-foot that caused a massive blister. I have not experienced any blistering in the Mutant, but it did take three pairs to find the right size. In a Nike running shoe I wear a size 11 US, in the Karacal I wore an 11.5 US, in the Mutant I wear a 12 US. The Mutant seems to run small even by La Sportiva standards.In terms of feel, the shoe tightens down quite a bit mid foot with a complicated lacing system. It will definitely take some adjustment to find the right level of tightness. The security of the lacing system along with the large lugs leads to confidence when descending. I mostly run on rocky trails in the Colorado front range and ... MoreI bought these after trying out the La Sportiva Karacal, which was a very comfortable trail shoe except for the elastic band mid-foot that caused a massive blister. I have not experienced any blistering in the Mutant, but it did take three pairs to find the right size. In a Nike running shoe I wear a size 11 US, in the Karacal I wore an 11.5 US, in the Mutant I wear a 12 US. The Mutant seems to run small even by La Sportiva standards.In terms of feel, the shoe tightens down quite a bit mid foot with a complicated lacing system. It will definitely take some adjustment to find the right level of tightness. The security of the lacing system along with the large lugs leads to confidence when descending. I mostly run on rocky trails in the Colorado front range and these shoes are just about perfect for that environment. The longest I’ve run in these so far is a 7 mile outing and the cushioning was great. The shoes do seem to be a bit bulky, but I’ll take the extra protection on the rocky trails that I run. If you run on mostly dirt, gravel, or well maintained trails these shoes might be a bit overkill and you could opt for a lighter shoe.Removed a star because of the lacing system which seems overly complicated to me and difficult to adjust.

Meh...

Been obsessively looking for a good low top shoe for regular hard trail running, rock scrambling, dog walking, hiking, etc. Over the winter I was using the mid/ hightop UltraRaptors and they are great but not such a good summer shoe. These mutants looked like they could be a sweet lightweight, but solid, summer adventure shoe. Got them and was initially psyched about the look, the soles are gnarly deep, the toe bumper solid, the lacing system a bit strange but kinda cool. Put them on and walked around my house a bit and they jist felt hard. Like no soft heel or insoles. It wrapped my foot tighly, which is great for hikes/approaches, rock scrambling, but it also felt more annoying than functional. Would probably break in a bit. But, over the course of a day and night ... MoreBeen obsessively looking for a good low top shoe for regular hard trail running, rock scrambling, dog walking, hiking, etc. Over the winter I was using the mid/ hightop UltraRaptors and they are great but not such a good summer shoe. These mutants looked like they could be a sweet lightweight, but solid, summer adventure shoe. Got them and was initially psyched about the look, the soles are gnarly deep, the toe bumper solid, the lacing system a bit strange but kinda cool. Put them on and walked around my house a bit and they jist felt hard. Like no soft heel or insoles. It wrapped my foot tighly, which is great for hikes/approaches, rock scrambling, but it also felt more annoying than functional. Would probably break in a bit. But, over the course of a day and night I just kept putting them on wanting them to feel nice but they didn't. Just meh. Not saying they are bad quality, but the "feel" inside the shoe just made me want to take them off and get into something more comfortable. Couldn't imagine spending all day in these.Well, I'm sure these may be great for some people, but for me, not the "ones". Though I love Backcountry and their customer service is always A+.Side note. I usually wear a 9.5 in most shoes but in these Mutants I got size 10(43) which felt like. 9.5. Most Sportiva shoes feel a half size smaller than say Adidas, Nike, Scarpa, 5.10, etc.Hope some of this helps other find their perfect adventure shoes

Mutant Mens Trail Running Shoes Opal/Neptune

The European size seems to be more accurate than the UK size for the correct fit for these, as I had to exchange the 8.5s I initially ordered. I have now raced in them and found them excellent. They are comfortable, give good support and grip well on mud and rock. The mud did not build up around the lugs. The forefoot is not that flexible which suits me as I have arthritic big toes. The asymmetric lacing system is no problem and there is a YouTube video demonstrating how to do them correctly.

THE best mountain running shoe

If your feet fit this shoe, there is simply not a better shoe for *mountain* running. I've owned 10+ pairs. This shoe has the protection, stability, and grip to bomb down technical, rocky, loose downhills. It will also scramble class 5 if you're up for that. Does well on wet rock and snow too.They are almost-too-tight on me out of the box, but I loosen the laces for a bit and do some easy running to wear them in, and then they become a laser perfect fit.Cons:- The high ankle collar seems to collect more rocks and debris than other shoes. If I am doing lots of loose stuff I add gaiters.- The tread wears down fast especially on steep terrain. That's the price you pay for extremely good grip I guess.- The heel pull tab will rip if you pull hard on it.Pro ... MoreIf your feet fit this shoe, there is simply not a better shoe for *mountain* running. I've owned 10+ pairs. This shoe has the protection, stability, and grip to bomb down technical, rocky, loose downhills. It will also scramble class 5 if you're up for that. Does well on wet rock and snow too.They are almost-too-tight on me out of the box, but I loosen the laces for a bit and do some easy running to wear them in, and then they become a laser perfect fit.Cons:- The high ankle collar seems to collect more rocks and debris than other shoes. If I am doing lots of loose stuff I add gaiters.- The tread wears down fast especially on steep terrain. That's the price you pay for extremely good grip I guess.- The heel pull tab will rip if you pull hard on it.Pro tips:- They have their best scrambling ability on rock when the lugs are a little rounded off and worn down.- Redo the end of the laces so you can tuck the knot into the lace garage on the side. You can single knot them and they will never come undone in the lace garage.

Tenacious Grip!

The Mutant's strong points are as Sportiva describes. The shoe's aggressive tread and sticky rubber practically enables you to walk up walls! This shoe's grip excels over their other shoes in challenging terrain like kitty litter scree on steep hardpack. I live in a dry climate, but I imagine this shoe excels in muddy terrain as well. The lacing system does provide an excellent fit; however, the shoe has more bulk and stiffness, which give it an inferior performance feel relative to the newer Kaptiva IMO. I note the Kaptiva's tread, however, doesn't bite as hard as the Mutant's, so the Mutant does a have a place in Sportiva's line up. One interesting thing about this shoe that Sportiva doesn't note is that the upper's construction sacrifices a bit a breathability ... MoreThe Mutant's strong points are as Sportiva describes. The shoe's aggressive tread and sticky rubber practically enables you to walk up walls! This shoe's grip excels over their other shoes in challenging terrain like kitty litter scree on steep hardpack. I live in a dry climate, but I imagine this shoe excels in muddy terrain as well. The lacing system does provide an excellent fit; however, the shoe has more bulk and stiffness, which give it an inferior performance feel relative to the newer Kaptiva IMO. I note the Kaptiva's tread, however, doesn't bite as hard as the Mutant's, so the Mutant does a have a place in Sportiva's line up. One interesting thing about this shoe that Sportiva doesn't note is that the upper's construction sacrifices a bit a breathability but provides a bit more warmth and keeps fine sand and silt out relative to most of their other shoes. This is a design tradeoff in the upper to be aware of. The last thing to speak to is the shoe is stiff/stable relative to the Akasha, Jackal, and Kaptivas I normally train in. This can be helpful in talus and technical scrambling terrain, but I personally find it slightly determintal to my training volume. I spend 25-30 hours / week training on my feet in the mountains and feel the stiffness yields a bit more wear on my joints by impairing my foot mechanics. That said, I have done multiple 10k+ vert days in the Mutants and continue to use them.I deduct 1 star for two reasons: (1) newer shoes like the Kaptiva providing equal to better fit with a less bulky feel and (2) the stiffness I feel is detrimental to my high volume training. The shoe absolutely gets 4 stars for all the strong points listed above.My 2020 volume was ~3200 miles and 1.4 million vert (w/ 2 months off). I'd estimate over half of that was in Kaptivas (most of the rest in Akashas and some in Jackals). 100% of my volume is mixed running and hiking in the mountains. The only flat I run is on high plains between peaks or dirt roads along the base of mountains when doing loops. I've owned about 40 pairs of Sportiva runners (with about 10+ of them being in reserve since I go through them quickly). I typically get 400-500 miles out of Sportiva shoes. This is my first pair of Mutants. 99% of my volume is in Sportiva runners.

The Mutants are Beasts (just size up!)

Yeah, there are lighter “race” shoes out there, but if you run/hike/climb/scramble in mixed terrains and conditions… these are likely the go-to shoes for you.After destroying a few so-called “trail” shoes from other brands way too quickly, I went with these. I’m on my 4th pair and see no reason to change. I wear these on everything from family hikes to all-day epic traverses. Handles it all. The lacing system is secure for predictable foot placement. The sole compound and lug design is really grippy for spicy scrambles and/or wet conditions. The uppers are durable and breath well. Note: I wear 13/47 in these, but am typically a 12.5/46. Size UP!I love these shoes, but there are several potential cons for some folks: 1) The grippy sole also means its relatively ... MoreYeah, there are lighter “race” shoes out there, but if you run/hike/climb/scramble in mixed terrains and conditions… these are likely the go-to shoes for you.After destroying a few so-called “trail” shoes from other brands way too quickly, I went with these. I’m on my 4th pair and see no reason to change. I wear these on everything from family hikes to all-day epic traverses. Handles it all. The lacing system is secure for predictable foot placement. The sole compound and lug design is really grippy for spicy scrambles and/or wet conditions. The uppers are durable and breath well. Note: I wear 13/47 in these, but am typically a 12.5/46. Size UP!I love these shoes, but there are several potential cons for some folks: 1) The grippy sole also means its relatively “soft” and can wear down a bit more quickly than a harder compound. That said, just stick to dirt and these shoes will probably feel dead before the rubber wears out. 2) The ankle is high-ish and snug (keeps rocks out). I have high ankle bones, so not an issue, but I know of some who get rubbing. 3) Laces and pull loops can break. Just don’t pull so hard, it’s unnecessary.